Pelvic pain in men might be more common than you think. It’s estimated that 8-12% of men will suffer with CPPS it at some point, so why is this not spoken of?
There are many misconceptions when it comes to pelvic pain, the most common I’ve heard is it only affects women who are either pregnant, or postpartum, this however, is false. Pelvic pain can happen to anyone with a pelvis, both women and men can suffer it. The medical community has made a lot of advances when it comes to dismissing this misconception, and now if a patient comes with pelvic pain, regardless of their sex, we know how to treat it.
The cause of pelvic pain in men can vary, it was most commonly known to be caused by prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate due to infection, as this diagnosis was the most common urologic diagnosis in men under 50, and this diagnosis can cause pelvic pain. Nowadays, we know that the cause of pelvic pain can and more often is not related to prostatitis, such as neuromuscular impairments, which means something is happening to their muscles, nerves or the tissue itself.
Definition of CPPS
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), previously known as chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is a condition with long-term pelvic pain without evidence of a bacterial infection.
Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?
So often men presenting with pelvic pain are diagnosed with “chronic prostatitis (CP)”, treated unsuccessfully with multiple courses of antibiotics and then shown the door. But according to Nickel and Shoskes (2013), 90% of men with this diagnosis don’t have CP at all, but CPPS.
Unfortunately, the work of these North American urologists is not well known, and there are few multi-disciplinary pelvic pain teams helping men with pelvic pain. This is despite the fact that 7.8% of Australian men identify as having pelvic pain (Ferris et al 2009), which can be anywhere in the pelvis, from the low abdomen, to the penis, scrotum, perineum, bowel and low back.
Pelvic pain is a distressing problem, as many of the functions that men take for granted as part of a satisfying life – urinating, defaecating, sexual arousal, ejaculation, sitting, walking, exercising – can cause crippling, agonising pain. It drives men to complete despair.
The Connection Between Sitting & Your Pelvic Floor Health
When you sit, you use your core, which consists of the diaphragm, trunk, obliques, and pelvic floor muscles. These muscles help stabilize you and support your pelvis and spine.
If you sit with poor posture or sit too long, your core and the parts of your body that make up that area, such as the pelvic muscles, can be impacted. Incorrect posture occurs when you hunch over or lean forward, tilting your pelvis forward and placing downward pressure on your pelvic muscles. This can lead to pelvic floor disorders, pelvic pain, fecal incontinence, and urinary incontinence.
Alongside sitting for a long time, living a sedentary lifestyle can increase your chances of developing incontinence as you age. The decreased movement causes your bladder tissues to overstretch from always sitting down, leading to damage.
7 Ways to Prevent Pelvic Floor Damage While Sitting
1. Don’t Sit for Too Long
Healthcare experts say you should sit for no more than 30 minutes at a time. It’s recommended that you get up for 5 minutes for every 30 minutes that you’re sitting. You should also never sit for more than 2 hours at a time.
2. Stretch During the Day
If you notice pain in your body or feel yourself falling into bad posture, stretch when you take a break from sitting.
Try to take a stretch break every 30-45 minutes while sitting. Set a timer to help you remember to stand up (there are several apps as well) or remember to get up every hour.
3. Watch Your Posture
Posture is the main reason for pelvic floor muscle damage. Improve your posture by rolling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades together. This elongates the abdominals and untucks the pelvis.
Sitting on an exercise ball v.s. a hard chair helps to take pressure off the lower back and pelvic floor muscles and allows for proper posture.
4. Stand When You Can
Sometimes, we are forced to sit down, but you can use other opportunities to stand up when possible. For example, try a standing desk, take breaks to stand during work, infrequently stand at meals, or stand while watching television.
5. Stay Active
Exercise can improve health issues that sitting for too long can cause, such as cardiovascular disease or depression. Cardio activities like running or swimming are good for your health. Avoid exercises that involve sitting or putting pressure on your pelvic floor, such as cycling.
6. Do Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are a type of pelvic floor muscle exercise that can significantly improve pelvic floor strength and, over time, improve incontinence symptoms.
7. See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
A pelvic floor physical therapist (PFPT) may be helpful if you’re experiencing pelvic or back pain. You may also want to see a pelvic floor therapist for damaged pelvic muscles. If you can’t leave the house, attending virtual pelvic floor therapy sessions or exercise classes is possible.
Care at Vigor
At Vigor Men’s Pelvic Health Centre, our team includes specialists with advanced training in pelvic floor health. They focus on diagnosing and treating erectile dysfunction, bringing extensive experience to patients who have previously undergone unsuccessful treatments.
Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment
Our researchers are dedicated to enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor problems. We are actively investigating the effectiveness of different exercises and protocols to effectively treat pelvic floor issues.
Location
We are located at Mid Valley Kuala Lumpur:
Vigor Men’s Pelvic Health Centre
Unit 1-10, Level 10, Boulevard 1&3,
Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.